Sagecasts
The latest Sagecast series focuses on longevity science.
The five Sagecasts in this series will evaluate what’s at stake in the drive to advance longevity science. The experts interviewed in these Sagecasts discuss the framework of the “longevity dividend” with an emphasis on the pros, cons, and hurdles to achieving healthy life extension of the population in the near future. Areas of focus are biomarkers of aging, the regulatory and policy landscape, the economic considerations of living longer, and public perceptions of an older population.
New this week is sagecast #36 with Dr. John Q. Trojanowski. See below for details.
#35 - Setting the Stage, the Longevity Dividend
A modest deceleration in the rate of aging sufficient to delay all aging-related diseases and disorders for about seven years would save and extend lives, improve health, and create wealth. This concerted effort to slow aging would compress mortality and morbidity and would not only produce healthier and longer lives, but would create significant financial gains—the longevity dividend. Dan Perry spoke with Crossroads about the themes in the article that he has coauthored, “In Pursuit of the Longevity Dividend”.
#36 - Biomarkers of Aging, the Key to Advancing Longevity Science?
The absence of well-accepted biomarkers of aging is a major impediment to research in longevity science. Discovery of biomarkers of aging will make it possible to pursue research into interventions that have shown promise in animal studies. While they hold great promise, there are many roadblocks standing in the way of their discovery. Dr. John Q. Trojanowski discussed the potential of biomarkers of aging based on what he has experienced in his research into biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease.
#37 - The Regulatory Landscape, Barriers, and Solutions
Many have argued that when it comes to advances from longevity research—the science is there, but the policy’s not. Dr. Richard Miller discusses policy barriers and solutions including insight into the issues faced by FDA, CMS, and NIH when it comes to longevity science.
#38 - Looking Beyond Policy to the "Political" Consequences of an Older Population
In addition to the regulatory and other policy hurdles that longevity science must face, the “politics” also play a role. Dr. Robert Butler chatted with SAGE Crossroads about the environment, attitudes, and perceptions that challenge the translation of longevity science.
#39 - The Payoff of Living Longer, Healthier Lives
For those that believe advances in longevity science will reduce disease and disability and extend healthy life, many also believe that advances will allow enormous economic benefits to accrue. By extending healthy years people could remain in the workforce longer, savings would increase, and use of entitlement programs would decline. Dr. Jay Olshansky talked with Crossroads about the economic potential of the longevity dividend and discussed some of the concerns of the skeptics.
Click through to the Sagecast archive to see all previous Sagecasts.
